China doll plants need to be treated like your favorite diva. Meaning, she doesn't like changes or poor air quality. Keep her environment unchanging and no moving from room to room on a whim or she'll protest with dropping her leaves! On the flip side, how can you resist her delicate and refined statement with those delicate-looking glossy leaves. She's the talk of the town...
Care Level: I'm Easy
Pet Friendly: Warning
Toxic to pets if ingested.
Origins: Grown in the USA. Native to the subtropical mountain regions of southern China and Taiwan.
Fun Facts: China doll plant ...
China doll plant is a fairly recent houseplant, having only been introduced in the early 1980s.
Enjoys a lot of bright light but not direct sunlight.
Enjoys being kept on the dry side. Water well and then let the soil dry.
Enjoys a little extra humidity. Spritz occasionally.
The China Doll can be finicky if conditions change slightly. They will drop their leaves in protest if water conditions change or experience any movement or drafts. A repotting can trigger a leaf shedding too. If this occurs, prune back the barren branch to regain growth. They will benefit from a consistent temperature range at all times.
Outdoors: part shade in the dappled morning sun (4-6 hrs.) where nights are above 60°F.
Indoors: place in bright indirect sun. When moving this plant from indoors to outside and back, expect leaf shedding as they change environments.
Water the plant before fertilizing to avoid fertilizer burn. Fertilize once a month by diluting a liquid fertilizer into the water while watering. Use half the recommended strength. Fertilize in the spring and summer months but let the plant rest in the fall and winter.
When receiving the plant, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months. They like to be a bit root-bound. (They don't like much change, so let them get acclimated to the area they will be located in.)
Repot in the spring, using a 2" bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a pot could cause the soil to dry slower, which is not helpful.)
A heavy container will help counterbalance the top-growth of the China Doll.
Prune away dead, damaged, or diseased leaves down to the stem base with sterile pruners.
To trim and stimulate new growth, cut a half-inch to one inch above a leaf. Cutting too much may put them into shock, so do a little at a time.
For more lushness, trim branches that face inward so they will branch and fill in open areas. Cut back rogue branches or any inner branches that are too bushy.
Observe the soil closely after a significant trim because the lack of foliage can follow lighter water use.
Take green stem cuttings from the tips of the parent plant. Cut with sterile scissors taking a 3-6 inch cutting.
Dip in rooting hormone and place them in moist potting soil. Cover with a clear plastic bag to retain moisture and humidity while they root.
Keep the cuttings in bright, indirect light.
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